i was just wondering is anyone has redone their exhaust system using NON-A.I.R. cats and still passed emissions?

or if anyone has any info on this at all that would be awesome

thanks

Kyle

 

I'm pretty sure they will fail you if you don't have your emissions equipment present, regardless of the results of the tailpipe sniffer.

I talked to a techincian that worked for Canadian Tire (I know, I know, they suck) and he said that cars that came from the factory with EGR/smog pumps would be failed automatically if they weren't present.

I was asking about my Firebird (which is sitting in Rhode Island, and hasn't been registered since 2000, in Alberta), and how hard it was going to be to get it passed in Ontario. I told him it was a carbed 305 (not carbed yet, but soon. Also planning a 350), with a bunch of bolt ons.
Interestingly, he told me that the fact that I had swapped from TBI to carb would not automatically fail me. It would only fail me if I couldn't pass sniffer, or if I had removed smog stuff while swapping to carb.

 

I have no smog pump running on my 89 L03 and do not have a problem passing the sniffer test (visual is a different story, but it helps to have a good friend who does that). But, without a Cat I find it very very unlikely that it would pass. Just make sure the car/cat is about as hot as it can be when you test it, and hopefully it will be fine, atleast mine is/was.

 

There are a few members here who have removed their smog pump air tubes and still pass emissions clean. I know, obviously they new someone at the test centre which helps. So........if you have a friend who has his own facility and does emission tests, by all means if you wish to remove those items go ahead. You CAN pass. Others have done it. Just make sure the car is properly tuned before you go. Do a search on the other boards. I plan to do this myself in the future. However by that time, my car will be emission test free

 

I do have all the emissions equipment but it may be useful to note that they can mark "N/A" for the AIR pump on the test.

It was actually funny - the tech opened the hood, took one look, closed the hood and marked "N/A" for AIR, and RPM. He didn't want to even bother trying to find anything on an LT1. For those of you that have seen the engine in my car you know what I mean - it's pretty packed in there. There is an AIR pump in there somewhere but he couldn't be bothered trying to find it.

The point of this is to put a big box in there and write "AIR pump" on it As far as I know the air pump is only on when the engine is cold and you shouldn't be doing an emission test cold anyway so it shouldn't matter.

Mark

 

Just tell them you have a 327 or a 400 and the visual doesn't matter. Hot Rod status cars only need to have a working gas cap. Most techs will take your word for it. Its a PITA to get the casting number off the back of the block, so most won't bother to check. If you want to be safe, just get a casting number from one of those motors off the net somewhere and have it with you at the test in case they ask for it.

 

I passed with no emossions equipment. There is a place in Brampton that is test only, I think they are called hansens. I will find the number for you. They do not even do a visual

 

Kevin, it doesn't work that way. Trust me. The nonsense you have to go through to get "Hot Rod" status is unreal.

 

I had no problem getting "Hot Rod" status when I did my e-test... but things may have changed. The problem is... the levels for "Hot Rod" status are not much more forgiving than the levels for my '83. The only break I really caught was they omitted the visual inspection.

 

Well, down here it involves at trip to the Ministry and a trip to an "authorised" repair station to get a written record of what your car came with OE. Then you need to get a written record of what the car now has. You then go to the Ministry and they decide if you can have "Hot Rod" status or not.

Regardless of what the car has under the hood, if it's a thirdgen, you need to have a converter.

 

It worked that way for me. I just told them at the local Chevy dealership i had a 350 in my 86 TA (had the LG4 in it), and they gave it to me with no questions. This was 2 years ago and things may have changed since then.

 

my main concern has to do with the cats themselves.

if i decide to go with headers with no AIR equipment on them but get cats that dont have the air tube coming out of them would i still be ok for the sniffer test?

also what all is included in the visual test? i know when i got my car tested 2 years ago the guy just looked for cats as far as i know.

thanks for all the responses

Kyle

 

just to let you guys know there is NO more visual inspection(AIR,egr,pcv etc..) all that is done, is, hood opens, get eng size, close hood, check for convertor, THATS it and of course oil leaks, blad tires...just started dec 17, as long as it has a convertor your good to go.they dont care about that **** anymore.as long as it passes or what ever...When i first saw the bulliten on the machine i was like holy ****, haha,pays to work at a shop with a machine..not that, that is in, hot rod status is useless.

 

all they look for now is cats, thats it.

 

You''l need cats to pass that is for sure.. they help out tonnes.. One guy on the TPI board was hitting 800ppm HC when he was allowed 220ppm HC put cats on and he hit 300ppm HC.. so as you can see they help out ALOT.. If you are running TPI you can cheat alot a custom prom for emission can help out alot.. The guy on the board ended up doing a custom prom and got it down to 17ppm HC... thats right 17ppm hc running a miniram.

Hope this helps

 

hey thanks again for all the responses and info !!

so hypothetically speaking here:

i have a basically stock L98, if i get some headers with NO AIR on them but still put cats on the exhaust system i should still be fine?

i do have a thermomaster chip, would that be a hinderance? 24 lb/hr injectors, k&n, all that free mod stuff, would that be a good or bad thing? i guess check my sig but apart from the exhaust which is now not on the car.

again any help is very much appreciated

Kyle

 

well ya. I think. but I would buy the air tube headers just to help thiings If you are running that thermomaster.. THROW IT IN THE GARBAGE.. buddy !! I dynoed mine and it made 1hp which is nothing! the performance curve was lower than the stock chip!
Trust me Gm did a great job on there chips! I have a 92 aswell but a 305 so it might be different!! (BUT I DOUBT IT) ask anyone that was there at dyno day.. they saw the look on my face! hahaha

If you are running 24lbs injectors you are running rich on a stock chip or a thermomaster chip for it is set for 22lbs injectors so it is a longer pulse width.. trust me put you stock one back in...

I am novice chip burner and this is what I know so far! lots left to learn...

Thanks

 

I wish it was that easy here. My car passed easily anyways but Dave got the shaft, big time.

I'm gonna go dig the car out of the snow bank and scan my e-test paper. After my 30 minutes at Crappy Tire I lost all respect for the Ontario Drive Clean Program.

 

OMG, SWEET!

Bring on the isopropyl.

 

dont even need the alcohol to pass,,,VERY easy to get them to pass when you have the equipment right infront of you.......trust me..

 

Hi I'm a certified test and repair tech. You just need cats on the car to have it tested as of Dec 2002 but you stil have to pass.Shouldn't be to hard if the engine is good and set up properly. No junk it has to run very well. Dave S.

 

Enlighten us Jeffbird. Are you guys able to tweak the machine at all?

 

I think I could get a funnycar to pass with a bottle of isopropyl

 

You mean 6 bottles don't you?